Kenosha Police are stepping out of their cars and onto the streets. There's a new focus on foot patrols spending more time closer to residents.
It's the idea of community policing. Police say it can be very challenging, but Kenosha Police say taking time to talk to folks can reduce crime and build relationships.
Officers Daniel Maccari and Andrew Baugher were on foot patrol for Labor Day. They started at the beginning of summer and this program focuses on some of Kenosha’s toughest neighborhoods.
"These are going to be our most violent neighborhoods where we get a lot of our shootings, our robberies and our fights," Officer Baugher said.
Crimes they're working to reduce.
“It's very rewarding, you can see a difference in the streets and it makes other people happy, that's what we're here to do, here to make people safe," Officer Maccari said.
Whether it's chatting about school or talking sports people like Kevin Hladilek are grateful.
“I appreciate it because to me it makes the neighborhood seem a lot safer, this way the criminals know, hey the cops are here on this block," Hladilek said.
Walking beats are done multiple times a week with multiple crews.
"We can actually know these people and relate with them because you know we've kind of had these contacts with them," Baugher said.
To run this program the Kenosha Police Department was awarded a $100,000 grant from the Department of Justice.
